2026 CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Research in Editing and Publishing (REAP) Conference
Theme: Growing the Editing and Publishing Discipline
August 6-7, 2026, at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT
We are excited to announce the inaugural Research in Editing and Publishing (REAP) Conference, which will be hosted by Brigham Young University and take place in Provo, UT, on August 6-7, 2026.
Research in the fields of editing and publishing (E&P) is on the rise, but too often it is scattered across disciplinary homes such as English, communications, journalism, linguistics, business, and others. While this diversity reflects the richness of E&P as a field, it also means that research, teaching, and professional practices often develop in isolation. Opportunities for dialogue and collaboration are limited, and the boundaries of the discipline remain underdefined.
REAP seeks to address this challenge by providing a dedicated scholarly venue where E&P work can be shared, interrogated, and expanded. The conference provides a space to come together as scholars, teachers, students, administrators, and practitioners of E&P to bridge gaps, share knowledge, and strengthen our growing discipline. The conference aims to:
- Connect scholars and practitioners whose work might otherwise remain siloed in different departments or professional spheres.
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration by drawing together research perspectives from the humanities, social sciences, and professional programs.
- Strengthen the scholarly identity of E&P as a discipline in its own right, with distinct questions, methods, and contributions.
- Bridge theory and practice by inviting engagement from editors, publishers, teachers, students, administrators, and other professionals.
- Cultivate the next generation of scholars and professionals through mentorship, networking, and opportunities to present emerging research.
By gathering as a community, we not only share insights but also chart the future of editing and publishing as a vibrant, interdisciplinary field.
Proposals
We invite established scholars, emerging scholars, graduate students, undergraduate students, and E&P professionals to join us in the conference. We welcome proposals that engage with any aspect of editing and publishing. You may want to consider the following broad categories:
- Histories of E&P — tracing the development of editorial practices, publishing industries, and disciplinary traditions.
- Theories and frameworks of E&P — exploring conceptual foundations, scholarly models, and emerging paradigms in the field.
- Pedagogical approaches — curriculum design, classroom strategies, and assessment in editing and publishing programs.
- Professional practices — case studies of editing, design, production, or publishing workflows in academic, trade, or digital contexts.
- Technology and tools — the impact of AI, digital platforms, accessibility tools, and evolving publishing technologies on the discipline.
- Editing across genres — from academic and scholarly texts to journalism, corporate communication, creative writing, and technical materials.
- Publishing as business — economic models, management issues and labor issues, copyright/licensing, and sustainability in publishing enterprises.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion in E&P — how editing and publishing practices can amplify (or marginalize) diverse voices and communities.
- Global and comparative perspectives — international and cross-cultural approaches to editing and publishing.
- E&P as a discipline — institutional homes, interdisciplinary collaborations, and strategies for growing legitimacy within academia and industry.
- E&P as a practice —intersections and tensions among writing, editing, publishing, academia, and other professional fields; multimodal nature of editing in the modern era.
- Student research and innovation — showcasing contributions by undergraduate and graduate students, emerging scholars, and practitioners.
- Bridging scholarship and practice — collaborations between researchers and industry professionals to advance both theory and application.
- Ethics of editing and publishing — transparency, authorship, power, and responsibility in editorial and publishing decisions; AI tools; representation, pluricentric Englishes, bias and discrimination; copyright and intellectual property, and so forth.
- Future directions — where editing and publishing are headed in light of industry shifts, scholarly trends, and educational needs.
Presentation Formats
- Individual Papers (15 minutes): Present original research or case studies.
- Panels (60 minutes): Organize 3–4 presenters around a shared theme.
- Posters: Share research projects, teaching innovations, or work-in-progress in an interactive format.
- Workshops (60 minutes): Facilitate hands-on learning experiences for participants.
Submission Guidelines
- Proposal length: Up to 300 words (excluding references).
- Panel submissions: Include a 250-word description of the panel plus individual 100-word abstracts for each paper.
- Workshop submissions: Up to 500-word description clearly describing learning outcomes and interactive elements. Note any materials needed.
- Deadline for submissions: January 16, 2026
- Notification of acceptance: February 2, 2026
Submissions
Visit reap.byu.edu to learn more and submit your proposal.
Join Us
We invite you to help shape the future of editing and publishing as a discipline. Together, we can grow a stronger, more connected scholarly community.
For more information, please visit bakerht).
HOLLY T BAKER
Assistant Professor
Department of Linguistics
Brigham Young University
JFSB 4041 | bakerht